31 Oct Study Finds Semaglutide Reduced Kidney Inflammation and Blood Pressure in Obese Patients Without Diabetes

MedicalResearch.com Interview on publication of:

Prof. Heerspink

Prof. dr. H.J. (Hiddo) Lambers Heerspink
Clinical Pharmacologist
Faculty of Medical Sciences
University of Groningen

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The diabetes drug semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, has a positive effect for patients with chronic kidney damage and obesity. The amount of protein in their urine decreased, as did the degree of inflammation of their kidneys and their blood pressure.

Hiddo L. Heerspink got the idea for this study at the beginning of the corona pandemic. Earlier, he had discovered that another class of drugs against diabetes-2, the so-called SGLT2 inhibitors also appeared to work well for patients with chronic kidney damage without diabetes. He therefore wanted to investigate whether semaglutide would also work positively for patients with chronic kidney disease and obesity.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The study was conducted in four countries: Canada, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Half of the 101 participants received 24-week injections of semaglutide, while the other half received a placebo. The study found that the amount of protein in urine, an outcome measure indicating the degree of kidney damage, was reduced by as much as 52%. Furthermore, the degree of kidney inflammation was found to decrease by 30%, the participants’ blood pressure drop was as large as a blood pressure-lowering drug gives, and in them, a key measure of heart failure was reduced by 33%. Participants also lost about 10% of their weight.

Heerspink is very enthusiastic about these outcomes. ‘The great thing is that the drug has both direct and indirect effects on the kidneys. The drug has direct effects on inflammation parameters in the kidney, and lowers fat tissue around the kidneys, lowering the amount of protein in the urine. And indirectly because it reduces participants‘ weight and blood pressure.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response: As for the follow-up, Hiddo L Heerspink is clear: ‘All signals are green to test this drug in a large study. I would like to find out whether it can lead to fewer dialyses or kidney transplants. And I would also very much like to investigate whether this drug also works positively in patients with kidney damage without obesity. It is only very difficult now to get enough of the drug to do the studies due to its unprecedented popularity.

 Note: Text above written by Joost Wessels in cooperation with Prof. Heerspink.

Citation:

Apperloo, E.M., Gorriz, J.L., Soler, M.J. et al. Semaglutide in patients with overweight or obesity and chronic kidney disease without diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nat Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03327-6

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Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD